Instrumented spherical blast impulse recording device (ISBIRD)

1. An Instrumented Spherical Blast Impulse Recording Device (ISBIRD) comprising: a spherical housing formed of a metal having a thickness sufficient to survive an explosive blast wave from a test weapon; a test data module comprising: a three-axis acceleration sensor; a memory; and a controller communicatively coupled to the three-axis acceleration sensor and the memory and that executes a data acquisition utility to record, in the memory, acceleration data in three-dimensions from the three-axis acceleration sensor during exposure of the spherical housing to the explosive blast wave; and an internal support structure attached inside of the spherical housing and attached to the test data module to centrally locate the test data module within the spherical housing during exposure to the explosive blast wave, wherein: the spherical housing comprises first and second hemispherical shells having respective first and second annular engaging surfaces that engage when positioned together to form a sphere; and the internal support structure comprising a cylinder support assembly attached between the first and second hemispherical shells.

2. The ISBIRD of claim 1 , wherein the internal support structure comprises: a first cap received in a first receptacle of the first hemispherical shell; a second cap received in a second receptacle of the second hemispherical shell; an open-ended cylinder received between the first and second caps; one or more fasteners attach through the first hemispherical and the first cap to a first end of the open-ended cylinder; and one or more fasteners attach through the second hemispherical and the second cap to a second end of the open-ended cylinder.

3. The ISBIRD of claim 1 , wherein: the test data module comprises a pressure sensor that communicates to an exterior of the spherical housing; and the controller communicatively is coupled to the pressure sensor and the memory and that executes the data acquisition utility to record, in the memory, pressure data from the pressure sensor during exposure of the spherical housing to the explosive blast wave.

4. The ISBIRD of claim 1 , wherein: the test data module comprises a temperature sensor that communicates to an exterior of the spherical housing; and the controller communicatively is coupled to the temperature sensor and the memory and that executes the data acquisition utility to record, in the memory, temperature data from the temperature sensor during exposure of the spherical housing to the explosive blast wave.

5. The ISBIRD of claim 1 , wherein: the test data module comprises a geographic location sensor; and the controller communicatively is coupled to the geographic location sensor and the memory and that executes the data acquisition utility to record, in the memory, geographic location data from the geographic location sensor during exposure of the spherical housing to the explosive blast wave.

6. The ISBIRD of claim 1 , wherein: the test data module comprises a beacon; and the controller communicatively is coupled to the beacon and the memory and that executes the data acquisition utility to activate the beacon in response to exposure of the spherical housing to the explosive blast wave.

7. An explosive testing system comprising: at least one an Instrumented Spherical Blast Impulse Recording Device (ISBIRD) comprising: a spherical housing formed of a metal having a thickness sufficient to survive an explosive blast wave from a test weapon; a test data module comprising: a three-axis acceleration sensor; a memory; and a controller communicatively coupled to the three-axis acceleration sensor and the memory and that executes a data acquisition utility to record, in the memory, acceleration data in three-dimensions from the three-axis acceleration sensor during exposure of the spherical housing to the explosive blast wave; and an internal support structure attached inside of the spherical housing and attached to the test data module to centrally locate the test data module within the spherical housing during exposure to the explosive blast wave; at least one pedestal at a respective predefined location from an explosive device and that supports one of the at least one ISBIRD; a test controller that triggers the explosive device to produce a blast impulse that propels each of the at least one ISBIRD from their respective at least one pedestal through the air; and a computer that analyzes the acceleration data caused by the blast impulse and retrieved from the at least one ISBIRD.

8. The explosive testing system of claim 7 , wherein: the test data module comprises a beacon; and the controller communicatively is coupled to the beacon and the memory and that executes the data acquisition utility to activate the beacon in response to exposure of the spherical housing to the explosive blast wave.

9. The explosive testing system of claim 7 , wherein: the spherical housing comprises first and second hemispherical shells having respective first and second annular engaging surfaces that engage when positioned together to form a sphere; and the internal support structure comprising a cylinder support assembly attached between the first and second hemispherical shells.

10. The explosive testing system of claim 9 , wherein the internal support structure comprises: a first cap received in a first receptacle of the first hemispherical shell; a second cap received in a second receptacle of the second hemispherical shell; an open-ended cylinder received between the first and second caps; one or more fasteners attach through the first hemispherical and the first cap to a first end of the open-ended cylinder; and one or more fasteners attach through the second hemispherical and the second cap to a second end of the open-ended cylinder.

11. The explosive testing system of claim 7 , wherein: the test data module comprises a pressure sensor that communicates to an exterior of the spherical housing; and the controller communicatively is coupled to the pressure sensor and the memory and that executes the data acquisition utility to record, in the memory, pressure data from the pressure sensor during exposure of the spherical housing to the explosive blast wave.

12. The explosive testing system of claim 7 , wherein: the test data module comprises a temperature sensor that communicates to an exterior of the spherical housing; and the controller communicatively is coupled to the temperature sensor and the memory and that executes the data acquisition utility to record, in the memory, temperature data from the temperature sensor during exposure of the spherical housing to the explosive blast wave.

13. The explosive testing system of claim 7 , wherein: the test data module comprises a geographic location sensor; and the controller communicatively is coupled to the geographic location sensor and the memory and that executes the data acquisition utility to record, in the memory, geographic location data from the geographic location sensor during exposure of the spherical housing to the explosive blast wave.

14. The explosive testing system of claim 1 , wherein the test controller wirelessly receives test data from the at least one ISBIRD.